waltappel 1 #1 January 29, 2006 What started out as posting a couple of funny stories seems to have turned into a series. In case you missed the earlier postings, here are some links: "Maybe the greenies don't like it when you act like a fool...": A true story about just how stupid I can get when I'm really frustrated. "More Stupid HumanTricks": A story of me getting stupid with some hot sauce. "My Visit to a Bordello": Just like the title says... "One more reason to hate the doctor's office": Nipple infections are not fun but can be funny. "I am a bad man when I get bored": My encounter with a perv in a laundromat "I am not a smart man when I'm drunk": A BASE site scouting trip gone bad. "thoughtful career choices": Who says mental hospitals are not fun? (ME, that's who!!!) "Glory, Glory, Halleleujia": Don't read this one if you are a homophobe. "practical joke for the practical nurse": A practical joke I played when I was a nurse. "The Romantic Kiss is Not Dead (long)": "God's gift to women "The Ultimate Accusation": Like the title says... "Building Stress Levels": How to give a BASE jumper a heart attack "Lick it Baby!": adventures with my tongue "When you have Little to Lose, You have Everything to Gain": Jumping El Cap Tribute to Don Gau (Part 1 - Paradise Discovered: I found paradise in the country Tribute to Don Gau (Part 2 — Living in Paradise): Funny Don Gau stories In part 1 of Tribute to Don Gau, I related how I met Don. In part 2, I told a few good Don stories. This piece is about Paradise lost. I never really thought it would happen, but I began to really question why I BASE jumped. After all, no rational person would even consider it for a moment. I risked death, serious bodily injury, and even my freedom and career. Why the hell would anyone BASE jump? I asked myself that each time I got to the exit point. As soon as I’d get that open canopy, though, I knew exactly why I BASE jumped! Hell yeah! After a while, though, even that reason seemed to fade. Eventually, I decided to quietly retire from BASE. No arrests, no serious injuries. I was going to quit while I was ahead. I changed jobs and was working longer hours and it became less convenient to go out to visit Don and Frances, but a couple of my friends were still jumping there and they kept me up to date on what was happening with Don. One day, my friend 460 told me Don was in the hospital with lung cancer. “What?!!!!” This was Don Gau, this wasn’t someone that gets sick! 460 was very insistent. “Walt, you really need to go out there and see him.” But I never did. I was never able to really believe he could or would ever die. He did, though. And I had squandered my opportunity to tell him how much I loved him and how dear his friendship was to me. Don, I’m so very sorry that I didn’t come see you. It tears my heart out. If I had it all to do over again, I swear, I would move Heaven and Earth just to see you one last time. I just never really believed you could die. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #2 January 29, 2006 I didn't even know this guy but I am tearing up big time right now. I can imagine among some of the advice he would give that "LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST" would be the main theme.Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
